CPL can be biosecure template - Perry
Published:Saturday | September 12, 2020 | 12:10 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
Former Windies cricketer Nehemiah Perry says that the health protocols used for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, which just concluded, can be used as a template for the Windies to potentially host matches in the future.
This year’s competition was held in a biosecure environment in Trinidad using two venues, the Queen’s Park Oval and the Brian Lara Stadium which hosted the semi-final and final matches.
Perry says that under the health circumstances, he was impressed with how they were able to organise the tournament.
“I didn’t think that they would have even played,” he said. “I thought it would have been cancelled until next year. So, for them to come out and do it, hats off of to them and at least it keeps cricket in the minds of people.”
Similar sentiments were shared by cricket analyst Freddie Wilde who tweeted his satisfaction at how the tournament was run amid the pandemic. He says that the measures taken could be a model for other possible matches to take place.
“The pitches were disappointing, but just getting the CPL played in the current climate is a huge achievement,” he said. “Given most cricket venues don’t have on-site hotels, the CPL, more so than England’s season, is the template for biosecure cricket. Congratulations @CPL and all involved.”
Among the measures agreed upon by CPL organisers and the Trinidad and Tobago government to receive approval to stage the competition are COVID-19 testing for all overseas players, staff and personnel before entering the country, and again seven days after departure. The six teams were accommodated at the Hilton Hotel in Port of Spain with the team only leaving for games.
Windies captain Jason Holder had previously expressed hope of a series in the Caribbean with England after their #raisethebat three match Test series held in July.
“A similar thing can happen here,” Perry said. “[But] are we capable enough to do it from a West Indies cricket standpoint? I think there are some persons there that can organise and put in the necessary things and I think its a very good template that people can follow.”